Permafrost Melting in Arctic Can Release War-Era Nuclear Remnants and Other Deadly Viruses

According to recent research, deep beneath the Arctic's permafrost hides Cold War-era nuclear waste and deadly viruses that might soon be exposed to the surface due to rapid-melting ice.

Another danger is the introduction of by-products of fossil fuels into permafrost ecosystems since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Natural metal reserves, such as arsenic, mercury, and nickel, were also found in the Arctic, mined for decades, and contaminated tens of millions of hectares with trash.

If these chemicals are released from the permafrost, they might cause food scarcity by harming the animals and fish that people rely on for sustenance.

Along with nuclear waste, the hazardous chemicals would emit additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing considerably to climate change.

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